Software projects/OS/SOLEIL

Disclaimer

• Same as here.
• The release thread is located here: http://boards.openpandora.org/index.php/topic/10894-application-soleil/
• The build system is GPL V3.

Helping this project

• Same as here.

What is SOLEIL ?

• In french, Soleil means Sun.
• SOLEIL is a Slackware operating system.
• The Pandora version of SOLEIL is based on SL4P, Slackware for Pandora, itself based on Slackware ARM.

Ok, but what is SOLEIL ?!!?

• It's the core of a mobile network. In a few seconds, you can use your Pandora to act as:
  • a firewall/gateway/router
  • a DNS server
  • a DHCP server
  • a NFS server
  • a Inetd server
  • a distcc server, networked distributed compilation system for faster ARM compilations
  • a PXE boot server to start simultaneously multiple x86 32 bits and 64 bits PC. Currently supported are:
    • Dyne:bolic, a Linux home studio for making music
    • System Rescue CD, a Gentoo-based Linux to repair filesystems, recover data etc.
    • GParted, a Debian-based Linux for partitioning and formatting hard drives, SSD, SD cards etc.
    • Ghost for Linux (G4L), a powerful hard drive clone/backup utility
    • MemTest, different versions of a RAM testing tool
    • Hardware Detection Tool, for quickly make an inventory of the booted PC's hardware
  • And the main feature is to act as a PXE boot server to start two persistent versions of Slackware, 32 bits and 64 bits

Media choice

• SOLEIL runs on a SD card. 32G or more are recommended if you plan to install all features. A minimal install may run on 8G although no size plan is clearly defined for now.
• The SD card must support Linux filesystems, see this SD compatibility chart.
• I myself recommend the SanDisk Extreme or Extreme Pro cards.

Accessories choice

• Although there's way do do without, you'll need one or two USB to Ethernet adapters.
• I myself recommend those twos. They can be connected to each other without the need of an external power supply:
  • For letting USB host enabled - http://www.logitec.co.jp/products/lan/lantxu2h3/index.php
  • For Gigabit ethernet at the lowest current drain - http://www.trendnet.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=275_TU2-ETG

Installation

• Follow the SL4P procedure: http://pandorawiki.org/Software_projects/OS/Slackware#Installation
• Instead of grabbing the SL4P release, get SOLEIL rootfs here: http://slackware.openpandora.org/pandora/index.php?dir=SOLEIL%2FSOLEIL-14.0%2Frootfs

Rootfs versions

• There's two rootfs, minimal and maximal.
• Minimal (16G SD card) only contains a 32 bit Slackware PXE, and all extra features (at the exception of the 64 bit PXE) can be installed as long as you have internet. Be careful to use a 32G SD card if you want to install extra features.
• Maximal (32G SD card) contains all features.

Installing the extra features in the minimal rootfs

• Get internet, be root using su - , then, if you want to install GParted:

cd /etc/SOLEIL/installers
sh 4.1-x86-GPARTED

• Same for G4L, System Rescue CD and Dyne:bolic
• There is no way to install the Slackware 64 bit PXE filesystem for now

Differences with SL4P

• There is no started network manager, all IP addresses are configured statically.
• The previously mentioned services are running.
• USB host is enabled by default.